Darby Madden of Red Bay looks around Hamilton’s Carley Emerson before taking a shot in Thursday’s game. Photo by Keith Ledbetter.

By Keith Ledbetter

For the FCT

Three weeks into their regular season, the Red Bay Lady Tigers remain undefeated following their 66-48 win over Hamilton on Thursday night.

Despite an 18-point win, the Lady Tigers (7-0) trailed 17-16 at the end of the first quarter and had only a 35-31 advantage at halftime.

Red Bay held the Lady Aggies scoreless for the first four minutes while they went on an eight-point run in the top of the third.

Red Bay’s Kasey Sparks tossed six of those points, and Carlee Lewey added a two pointer at the six-minute mark.

Hamilton’s Haley King broke the ice in the third for the Lady Aggies with two free throws to cut Red Bay’s lead to 10 points.

Near the end of the third, Hamilton’s Corinne Cobb cut Red Bay’s lead to seven points on two foul shots.

Red Bay’s Darby Madden put Red Bay up by a score of 50-41 at the end of the third with a two-point basket at the buzzer.

Red Bay went on a nine-point run in the fourth to lead the Lady Aggies by a score of 61-48 with just over three minutes remaining in the game.

Red Bay outscored Hamilton in three of the four quarters for the win.

Kasey Sparks led all scores with 24 points. Darby Madden added 15, Allie Kennedy scored 12, Moran Pierce netted seven, Elizabeth Wooten scored six, and Hope Cook added two.

Hamilton’s Natalie Bleazard led the Lady Aggies with 12.

Red Bay plays on the road against Tremont on Dec. 19, and at home against Belmont on Dec. 20. They will play at New Site on December 21.

The Lady Tigers will have a short Christmas break before they travel to Rogersville to play in the annual Lauderdale County Christmas Tournament on Dec. 26.

The tournament, which runs through Dec. 28, has always been a measuring rod for many of the area coaches because they will get an opportunity to play teams they don’t get to see during the regular season.

“The Lauderdale tournament will be tougher than normal this year because they’re going to put everyone in one bracket,” Lady Tigers head coach Donnie Roberts said.

“In the past, they have starting out playing the smaller schools against each other. This year they’re going to put all 19 teams in one pot.”

Roberts said regardless of the outcome, they’re going to get some good practice out of it.